Environmentally speaking, the Prius & other hybrids aren't the only clean fish in the pond anymore. Check out http://driveclean.ca.gov for continuing updates.
1. A number of all gas vehicles are now rated at SULEV and PZEV (0 evaporative emissions). Even the humble, very popular Hyundai Elantra has a sulev/pzev option and only costs between $13000 to $18000.
Ford will even be introducing PZEV based all gas trucks within a year, as I recall. They already have PZEV Focus models selling in CA and the other 3 smarter states.
2. Within a few years, the U.S. will have retrofitted nation wide diesel to the excellent clean burning stuff. A number of diesel cars can get close to 50 miles/gallon now and the new clean buring diesel might just be the ticket.
3. Fuel cell vehicles are already being tested in LA. Within 6 - 9 years, don't be surprised to see consumer fuel cell driven vehicles. Maybe the hybrid technology is just a temporary buffer until this new technology hits.
That being said, I'm still very interested in the 2004 Prius. I'm not excited about the $6,200 battery replacement though. There is no guarantee that prices will drop that much. It might almost be tolerable if it drops to less than $1000 and old battery parts can be recycled? The price could only drop if there are a lot more hybrids out there, preferably sharing the same kind of battery pack to really influence prices. But what are the odds that various vehicle manufacturers will share battery pack data? How much will a hybrid resale value be with an old battery?
I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade here. Just looking at the possibilities.
1. A number of all gas vehicles are now rated at SULEV and PZEV (0 evaporative emissions). Even the humble, very popular Hyundai Elantra has a sulev/pzev option and only costs between $13000 to $18000.
Ford will even be introducing PZEV based all gas trucks within a year, as I recall. They already have PZEV Focus models selling in CA and the other 3 smarter states.
2. Within a few years, the U.S. will have retrofitted nation wide diesel to the excellent clean burning stuff. A number of diesel cars can get close to 50 miles/gallon now and the new clean buring diesel might just be the ticket.
3. Fuel cell vehicles are already being tested in LA. Within 6 - 9 years, don't be surprised to see consumer fuel cell driven vehicles. Maybe the hybrid technology is just a temporary buffer until this new technology hits.
That being said, I'm still very interested in the 2004 Prius. I'm not excited about the $6,200 battery replacement though. There is no guarantee that prices will drop that much. It might almost be tolerable if it drops to less than $1000 and old battery parts can be recycled? The price could only drop if there are a lot more hybrids out there, preferably sharing the same kind of battery pack to really influence prices. But what are the odds that various vehicle manufacturers will share battery pack data? How much will a hybrid resale value be with an old battery?
I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade here. Just looking at the possibilities.